What is the Youth Leadership Conference?
The Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference empowers emerging young leaders by providing training opportunities and connecting them to resources in their community. Each August, rising 9th through 12th graders residing in the City of Alexandria are invited to attend this free event. Through interactive workshops, attendees learn how to engage, lead, and advocate for issues they care about.
The conference culminates with an afternoon networking session with Alexandria's community leaders, designed to facilitate youth-adult partnerships. This session brings together City Council and School Board representatives, City board and commission leaders, non-profit executives, and City staff to create a forum where organizations can connect with the City's youth leaders, share volunteer and leadership opportunities, and recruit youth to serve in leadership positions on Boards and Commissions.
This event is hosted each year by the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA), the Alexandria Sexual Assault Center, and the Alexandria Library.
Recap: City of Alexandria Hosts 13th Annual Youth Leadership Conference
In August 2026, 65 youth attended the 13th annual Alexandria Youth Leadership Conference. This year's conference theme was "Ignite the Spark: One Spark Can Start a Movement." Throughout the event, students participated in interactive workshops spanning a range of topics, including communication, problem-solving, confidence-building, mindfulness and mental health, financial literacy, public speaking, and networking.
City of Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins kicked off the event by sharing her leadership journey and answering students’ questions. Students were also recognized with certificates by SAPCA Chair Allen Lomax, ACAP Chair Helen Morris, and Chief of Youth Development Noraine Buttar.
The conference culminated with an afternoon networking session with more than 40 community leaders -- including City Council and School Board representatives, the City Manager, City Board and Commission leaders, non-profit executives, and City staff -- and an “ice cream social” featuring frozen treats from Goodie’s Frozen Custard. Youth that participated in the conference will receive updates throughout the year about internships, volunteer and leadership opportunities, and other ways to get involved in the Alexandria community.